Wick 'beaten by better team' as Swifts snuff out Scottish Cup hopes
Wick Academy's hopes of another Scottish Cup run were snuffed out by Jeanfield Swifts in Saturday's first-round tie at Harmsworth Park, with manager Gary Manson admitting the Scorries had been "beaten by the better team".
The East of Scotland League Premier Division side were rarely troubled as they ran out 3-1 winners to set up a home tie against Elgin City in round two.
Rob McLean's own goal just before the half-hour was all that separated the sides until the final minute of the first half when a long-range free kick by Fraser Smith eluded Wick keeper Graeme Williamson.
Chris McLeish knocked in a third for the Perth-based visitors on the hour mark before Jack Halliday reduced the deficit eight minutes later.
"In the first half we never got close to them," Manson said. "It looked like we were going to go in 1-0 down, which would have been a bit of a result.
"We tweaked it a wee bit at half-time and put Kyle Henderson on, and it made a difference. The second half was a lot more competitive.
"Kyle was disappointed not to start, and I get that. But that's what you want from your substitutions – to come on and make an impact.
"He and Gordon MacNab linked up quite well in the second half and we looked more dangerous with the two up top."
Williamson pulled off a series of impressive saves but looked to have been deceived by the flight of Smith's swerving free kick from about 40 yards.
"There's no way the guy shot – it was an over-hit cross and Graeme wasn't expecting it," Manson said. "It happens. Graeme was outstanding today.
"Mistakes are part and parcel of the game and when you're a goalkeeper, more often than not mistakes cost goals. He kept the score down in the first half."
Manson added: "Sometimes you're beaten by the better team and today was one of those examples."
Swifts were quickly on the front foot and Williamson produced a wonder save, hurling himself down to his right to turn away a seemingly goal-bound flick by McLeish.
The Scorries were living dangerously but a counter-attack resulted in Gordon MacNab slotting the ball into the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Swifts got themselves in front in the 29th minute when Chris Scott's low cross from the right was diverted by McLean into his own net.
Swifts kept pressing, and a shot from Jordan Northcott must have been very close to crossing the line after it slammed down from the underside of the bar.
Halliday took matters into his own hands when he set off on a rampaging run from deep inside his own half, ultimately sending a curling effort just wide of the far post.
The Perth men doubled their lead a minute before half-time when a free kick by Smith from about 40 yards seemed to change direction in mid-air and dipped just under the crossbar.
Swifts effectively put the tie beyond Academy's reach on the hour mark when McLeish got on the end of a low ball in from the left and hooked it past Williamson from close range.
The Scorries pulled one back after 68 minutes when Halliday drilled in a powerful shot.
MacNab appealed for a penalty after a challenge in the box, and Henderson had a couple of decent free-kick attempts, but Academy couldn't find the second goal that would potentially have set up a grandstand finale.
Jeanfield Swifts stayed overnight in Inverness ahead of the match.
Their manager Robbie Holden said: "It was good to get the team together. We prepared well and we came out with a good win today so we're really happy.
"I was actually disappointed that we hadn't scored more. We hit the bar twice, the goalkeeper made two or three fantastic saves.
"I think we dominated the first half and should have maybe had the tie done by half-time. We stepped up a gear [after the Wick goal] and we took possession comfortably again.
"All in all, I thought we performed well and were well worth the win."
Normandy veteran Robbie Larnach from Lybster, who passed away earlier this year, played for both clubs – Jeanfield Swifts in 1946 and Academy during the 1950s. In his memory there were two man-of-the-match awards on Saturday, one for each team.
These were presented to Swifts' Fraser Smith and to Academy's Jack Halliday by Robbie's son Noel Larnach and Noel's 14-year-old grandson Lewis Malcolm.
It's back to league business for Wick now with three games in an eight-day spell coming up. They are away to Strathspey Thistle on Saturday, at home to Forres Mechanics the following midweek and away to Lossiemouth on Saturday, October 7.
There was shoot-out heartbreak for Golspie Sutherland of the North Caledonian League as they were edged out of the Scottish Cup by Forres Mechanics at King George V Park.
The tie ended 1-1, with the Highland League club going through on penalties. Forres will meet Buckie Thistle in the second round.
Brora Rangers were 5-1 winners over Berwick Rangers 5-1 and travel to Stenhousemuir next.
In all, 11 Highland League clubs are through to round two.
Scottish Cup first-round results (ties involving Highland League clubs): Banks O' Dee 6, Dalbeattie Star 0; Brechin City 4, Rothes 0; Brora Rangers 5, Berwick Rangers 1; Broxburn Athletic 2, Nairn County 1; Caledonian Braves 1, Fraserburgh 2; Clachnacuddin 1, Inverurie Locos 0; Culter 3, Deveronvale 4; East Stirlingshire 0, Huntly 1; Formartine United 3, Threave Rovers 2; Gala Fairydean Rovers 8, Strathspey Thistle 2; Golspie Sutherland 1, Forres Mechanics 1 (Forres won 7-6 on penalties); Keith 2, Luncarty 5; Lossiemouth 0, Beith Juniors 4; Tayport 0, Buckie Thistle 4; Turriff United 2, Sauchie Juniors 1; Wick Academy 1, Jeanfield Swifts 3.
Scottish Cup second-round draw (ties played on weekend of Saturday, October 28): Beith Juniors v Broomhill; Brechin City v The Spartans; Civil Service Strollers v Stranraer; Cumnock Juniors v Turriff United; Deveronvale v Broxburn Athletic; Dumbarton v Banks O' Dee; Dunbar United v East Fife; Formartine United v Clydebank; Forres Mechanics v Buckie Thistle; Fraserburgh v Bonnyrigg Rose; Huntly v Forfar Athletic; Jeanfield Swifts v Elgin City; Kilwinning Rangers v Cowdenbeath; Luncarty v Bo'ness United; Musselburgh Athletic v Clyde; Peterhead v Clachnacuddin; Pollok v Gala Fairydean Rovers; Stenhousemuir v Brora Rangers; Tranent v East Kilbride; University of Stirling or Albion Rovers v St Andrews United.
Highland League fixtures – Wednesday: Banks O' Dee v Brechin City; Keith v Fraserburgh. North of Scotland Cup quarter-final: Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Rothes.
Saturday, September 30 – Highland League Cup semi-finals: Brechin City v Fraserburgh; Brora Rangers v Keith.
Highland League: Buckie Thistle v Nairn County; Formartine United v Turriff United; Huntly v Clachnacuddin; Inverurie Locos v Rothes; Strathspey Thistle v Wick Academy.
